Composition for fire-kindlers.



RALPH M. SHEETS, OF TOWER, MINNESOTA.

COMPOSITION FOR FIRE-KINDLERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 14, 1908.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

Serial No. 452,981.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH M. SHEETS, citizen of the United States,residing at Tower, in the county of. St. Louis and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Composition forFire- Kindlers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to preparations and processes for making suchpreparations for use in lighting coal or wood fires in stoves, ran es,furnaces and the like.

T e object of my invention is to produce an article which will take theplace of ordinary kindling wood, and do away with the difiicultiesattendant upon the use of the same, and at the same time be moreefiective Ehan kindling wood in the process of lighting res.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have describedit in the following specification, and pointed it out more particularlyin the claim at the end thereof.

My improved fire lighter is preferably made in the form of a brick ofany desired dimensions, which is composed of Wood, rosin and tallow.

The wood preferably pine, is cut into small pieces or blocks about threequarters of an inch in diameter, and may be of any shape, although Ihave found small cubes or squares desirable.

The principal reasons for using blocks or pieces of wood of thedimensions specified, are that when combined with the other materialsused, the mass may be readily molded into a desired form or bricks, andafter the brick is ignited and begins to burn, the individual blocksquickly catch fire and in burning fall away from each other, thuspermitting the air to have free access which causes them to burn with abright, clear flame lasting until the blocks are consumed.

The rosin is placed in a receptacle and heated to near the boiling pointwhen tallow is added and the whole mass again heated to the boilingpoint. The small pieces of wood are then put into the receptacle withthe rosin and tallow and the mixture heated, after which the product ispoured into molds of any desired shape or size.

The proportions in which I use the above ingredients may be varied, butI obtain excellent results by using the followin proportions per brick:5% ounces of I'OSIIl, 3% ounces of wood, 3 ounces of tallow. In thiscombination of ingredients the wood absorbs more of the tallow than ofthe rosin, and is very readily ignited and affords a bright and lastingblaze and intense heat. The rosin ives body and a more massive flame andlengthens the duration.

Coal fires may be started by the use of my preparation under almost anyconditions.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is An article ofmanufacture for lighting fires, consisting of small blocks of wood,rosin and tallow, the dimensions of the blocks of wood beingapproximately threequarters of an inch or more, the whole being moldedwhen in a heated state into the form of a brick, substantially asdescribed.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

" RALPH M. SHEETS.

Witnesses:

JOHN B. PEARSON, RAY KEITH.

